Rodney D Lewis

Born December 23, 1944 in Pekin to Edwin and Ruth E. (Jackson) Lewis, he married W. Darlene Whiteside on March 13, 1966 in Pekin. She died August 27, 1990 in Peoria. He later married Rozell Rushing Stubbs on June 5, 1999. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Stephanie Lewis of Marquette Heights; one son, Todd Lewis of Springfield; one step-daughter, Cheryl (Donald) Fraim of Tremont; two step-sons, Joe (Diane) Stubbs and Dwight Stubbs, both of Pekin; three grandchildren, Skylar Lewis and Drake Lewis, both of Auburn and Katie Lewis of Springfield; six step-grandchildren, Shad (Brandy) Fraim of Tremont, Anna (Travis) Kidd, Jesse (Tiffany) Fraim, and Amanda (Brad) Durflinger, all of Morton, Tim Fraim of Kansas City, Missouri, and Blake Stubbs of Peoria; and one brother, Edwin G. (Molly) Lewis, Jr. of Green Valley.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Richard and Ronald Lewis.

Rodney was a member of the Grace Baptist Church in Pekin, where he served as a deacon, trustee and usher.

He had served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.

He had worked for Caterpillar, Inc. in East Peoria for 38 years, retiring in 2001 as a time keeper.

Rodney had been a member of the Pekin Remote Control Club and the Corvette Club. A pilot, he loved to fly and owned his own Cessna. He had an interest in photography, computers and enjoyed reading. He was known as "Deatz" to his family and close friends.

His funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday, January 6, 2014 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Rev. Randy Justus will officiate. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, where military honors will be provided by the Military Honors Team.

Memorial contributions may be given to his church at 1301 S. 14th St. Pekin, IL 61554 or to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Midwest Chapter at 2050 Pfingsten Rd. Suite 127 Glenview, IL 60026.